Tibetan Buddhist Nine Pronged Dorje

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Nine Pronged Dorje
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZCA62
Price: 195.00 USD
Availability: InStock

CA$279

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Specifications

	ZCA62
	Copper Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 1.5 inch
	Width: 4.5 inch
	Depth: 1.5 inch
	Weight 160 gm

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Vajra: Symbol of Unwavering Enlightenment

This exquisite nine-pronged dorje, meticulously crafted from copper and gilded with radiant 24-karat gold, is a powerful representation of spiritual force and enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism. The dorje, often translated as "diamond" or "thunderbolt," embodies the indestructible nature of enlightened wisdom. Its dual nature, mirroring the physical and spiritual realms, symbolizes the ultimate reality that is both changeless and absolute, yet also dynamic and active in the world.

Mythological Significance and Sacred Symbolism

In Buddhist cosmology, the dorje is associated with Indra, the king of the gods, who wields a vajra as his weapon to overcome ignorance and delusion. It represents the thunderbolt's ability to shatter obstacles and bring forth clarity. The nine prongs of this particular dorje are imbued with profound meaning, often interpreted as representing the nine classes of enlightened beings or the nine perfections of Buddhahood. They also signify the nine spiritual "grounds" or stages of progress on the path to enlightenment. The central sphere of the dorje can be seen as the unified mind, from which all these enlightened qualities emanate.

A Tool for Spiritual Practice

In Tibetan Buddhist rituals and meditation practices, the dorje is typically paired with a bell (ghanta). While the dorje symbolizes the masculine principle of wisdom and emptiness, the bell represents the feminine principle of compassion and skillful means. Together, they represent the union of these essential elements for achieving full enlightenment. This nine-pronged dorje, with its intricate detailing and precious gold gilding, serves as a potent focal point for meditation, helping practitioners to cultivate inner peace, wisdom, and a connection to the enlightened mind. Its small size makes it ideal for personal altars, meditation spaces, or as a portable reminder of spiritual aspirations.

Craftsmanship and Divine Aura

The process of gilding with 24-karat gold imparts a lustrous sheen that enhances the spiritual significance of the dorje. The warm glow of the gold evokes the brilliance of the sun and the purity of enlightened consciousness. Each curve and detail of this object speaks to the reverence and skill with which it was created, inviting contemplation and spiritual inquiry. This piece is not merely an artifact, but a conduit to profound spiritual understanding and a tangible symbol of the unwavering light of enlightenment.

How are Nepalese copper statues made?

Nepalese statues and sculptures are best known for their unique small religious figures and ritual paraphernalia for over two thousand years. These are mainly cast in copper alloy. Nepal draws influences from the artistic styles of Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore the sculptors of the country specialize in making the icons of both these religions. Over the years, Nepalese sculptures evolved into their own distinctive iconography. Some characteristic features of these sculptures that differ from other pieces are exaggerated physical postures, youthful and sensual features, languid eyes, wider faces having serene expressions, and ornate flourishes. The Buddhist deity icons of Nepal have tremendous demand in countries such as China and Tibet for ritual purposes in their temples and monasteries.

Nepalese statues and sculptures have a high copper content and therefore develop a slightly reddish patina on the surface as they age. However, the most unique feature of Nepalese copper statues is their decorative detailing. The pieces are heavily gilded and sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones. This embellishment protects them from getting tarnished. The traditional lost-wax method for casting Nepalese copper statues remains the most practiced technique in Nepal for many centuries. This process involves many steps and requires skilled artists.

The first step in lost-wax sculpting is to make a wax replica of the desired Buddhist deity to be cast in copper. This replica is created by hand and therefore needs excellent artistic skills otherwise fine features will be lacking.

Once the wax replica is made, it is then coated with a special mixture of clay with a brush. This layer of clay is hardened when left to dry. A small hole is made on the base of the wax mould so that the wax flows away when it is heated.

At this stage, a hollow mould in the shape of the deity is obtained.

This is the time to pour liquid copper into the hollow mould which is then allowed to cool and harden inside a container of cold water. When the liquid metal has hardened, the mould is removed and the statue within is revealed.

The artist works on the details of the statue using various tools. It is then polished to get a shiny and lustrous surface.

Now comes the most important part of Nepalese art which is gold gilding. This is done by the traditional fire gilding method. A mixture of mercury and 18K gold is applied on the surface of the statue and heat is applied using a flame torch. The result is that mercury evaporates along with impurities, leaving a pure 24K gold finish.

The lost-wax method of sculpting is the most preferred technique

for artists to cast a metallic statue having intricate details. Since Nepalese copper sculptures require extraneous effort for giving a majestic look by adding special embellishments, it takes several weeks to complete one masterpiece. A 24K gold gilded copper sculpture retains its brilliant luster for many years and appears as like before. Nepalese sculptures continue to remain one of the finest specimens of the art of the East that have a strong aesthetic appeal that other sculptures cannot match.